A man wanted on outstanding arrest warrants faced Dubbo court and was refused bail after a police pursuit earlier this week.About 11.30am on Wednesday 28 May 2025, police were called to a service station on John Street, Coonabarabran, after reports that a man allegedly stole grocery items.About 12.55pm the same day, a man driving a black Holden Barina allegedly failed to pay for fuel at a service station on Miller Street, Gilgandra.Officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District were patrolling Brisbane Street, Dubbo at about 1.40pm, when they allegedly sighted the Barina drive through temporary fencing.Police attempted to stop the vehicle and when it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated.The pursuit was terminated on the Mitchell Highway, west of Dubbo, due to safety concerns.A short time later, the vehicle was successfully road spiked and came to a stop at the intersection of the Mitchell Highway and Meryula Street, Narromine.A 32-year-old man was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station, where he was charged with shoplifting, dishonestly obtain property by deception, destroy or damage property, drive motor vehicle while licence suspended, and police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously.Police also executed two outstanding arrest warrants for weapons, shoplifting, domestic violence-related offences and breach of bail.The man was refused bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court yesterday Thursday 29 May 2025.

Gomeroi advocates say they'll continue to push against the Narrabri Gas Project after the National Native Title Tribunal ruled gas company Santos can lease Gomeroi cultural lands in the Pilliga Forest for drilling. In 2023, Gomeroi applicants lodged an appeal against a decision in 2022 to approve the lease for the Narrabri Gas Project. However, the tribunal said in its final determination on Monday 19 May that the project benefits outweigh likely cultural impacts. "The panel placed significant weight on energy reliability to find that the Project offers a net public benefit," the 127-page document said. "Based on the evidence before it, the panel is satisfied the negative effects of the Project can be mitigated by appropriate, comprehensive conditions." The tribunal imposed 23 conditions on the approval, including that no work take place within 500 metres of the Yarrie Lake or Bohena Creek without Gomeroi consent. Most of the lands targeted by Santos are subject to a registered native title claim by Gomeroi people, which meant Santos either needed an agreement with them to progress its project, or overriding approval from the tribunal. The area under native title claim by the Gomeroi people. See full map here.Coonamble Gomeroi woman Teresa Stanton, who has taken part in a long-running local campaign against the project, said the decision "devastated" traditional owners. "We'll keep fighting," she said. Another Gomeroi woman, Coonabarabran's Suellyn Tighe, said "we will grieve and then we will regroup." "It's a cultural tether to Country, a bit like an umbilical cord," Ms Tighe said "Lots of our cultural stories are linked to there. It's linked to the geography itself. Our stories are also linked to the food sources that are available there. It's linked to ceremony. "The Gomeroi nation is part of the public and we have expressed very strongly that no, we don't want this. And yet, we seem to be constantly ignored."She said native title rules should be reviewed, which she said create an "uneven playing field" against traditional owners in tribunal disputes like those with Santos. Under the conditions, Santos will also fund a ranger program to monitor and manage climate change effects in the Pilliga, including in the project area. The program would run throughout the lifetime of the project. However, Ms Tighe said the program is "paternalism wrapped up in a pretty bow". "That's telling us and mandating how we can interact with the land and with our culture, rather than letting us conduct cultural practices in the way that has been done for millennia," Ms Tighe said.Suellyn Tighe at the fire tower in the Pilliga Scrub. (IMAGE: supplied) In 2020, NSW Independent Planning Commission greenlit the project proposal for 850 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga, which they are promising will supply half of NSW's gas needs. The company still awaits approval from the federal government for a 30-kilometre pipeline to connect the Narrabri Gas Project to the Hunter Gas Pipeline. Opponents have also expressed concern over potential groundwater contamination from fracking, including Coonamble Mayor Dan Keady. Coonamble shire communities are reliant on the underground Surat Basin for almost all their water needs. "We don't know how these things will pan out unless they've been in the ground for 40, 50 years or more," Cr Keady said. He hopes the decision will regenerate local interest in the matter, which he felt has waned in recent years. In a statement to the ABC, Santos said it welcomed the decision. "Narrabri gas appraisal wells are already supplying the Wilga Park Power Station in north-west New South Wales, generating enough electricity to power 32,000 homes," the statement said.

Wiradjuri woman Amy Sutherland has taken out the region's top title for Aboriginal Nurse/Midwife of the Year at the 2025 Western NSW Local Health District Nursing and Midwifery Awards on Tuesday 20 May. Ms Sutherland is a transitional nurse practitioner with Gilgandra Health Service. She described the win as humbling both personally and professionally, and said it has been incredibly significant and identity-affirming for her. "I actually didn't grow up strongly connected to my culture when I was younger," said Amy. "So when I became an adult, I had to reconnect with my identity. It's been a really big part of my journey. "I've worked really hard to learn to be involved in my community and to represent my culture and my practice, and so now to be recognised for that just means the world to me."Her message to young Indigenous people who are considering a career in the healthcare field is simple: "you should never feel that you have to do this alone." "That's been the biggest takeaway for me, realizing that I can lean on my community. I can lean on mentors. There is help and support available there for Aboriginal people." Amy also stressed that you don't have to leave your community to have a great career in healthcare. "I think there's still this assumption from a lot of people that you have to leave home and go to a big city in order to be successful, to study and to do something, and that's not the case at all. I'm proof of that. "If you want to get into healthcare, do not feel that you have to leave your community to do that. It's actually your community that needs you, and you belong in your community." WNSWLHD Executive Director Quality, Clinical Safety and Nursing Adrian Fahy said he was thrilled to personally congratulate each recipient. “Nurses and midwives make up the largest part of our workforce with more than 3,300 committed professionals across the district,” Mr Fahy said. “Their tireless efforts are at the heart of the care we provide, whether in hospitals, community health centres, or in the homes of our patients.  “Every year I’m impressed with the quality of all our nominations, as usual it was an incredibly difficult task to select our Award recipients, which is testament to the commitment of our workforce." The recipients from the WNSWLHD award categories will now be put forward as nominees for the 2025 NSW Excellence in Nursing and Midwifery Awards.

The Federal Government’s biggest infrastructure project, the Inland Rail, is on track with a 306 kilometre stretch of new build between Narromine and Narrabri awaiting on the results of current work to inform the government's decisions.The project is powered by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), a subsidiary of the Federal Government, and the push to construction on the largest greenfield section was paused after Labor came to power in 2022.With primary approvals from the NSW Government in 2023 and the Federal Government in January 2024, ARTC has been moving into the detailed design phase.Teams are out in force along the alignment, conducting on the ground research with a particular focus on water in order to refine the track's drainage infrastructure.The Inland Rail has a projected cost of $31 billion and is designed to ease heavy freight pressure from Melbourne to Brisbane, including a large greenfield section running through Narromine to Narrabri. ‘’Our ongoing schedule of site investigations and surveys along the Narromine to Narrabri section is continuing in 2025 at multiple locations. Soil erosion testing between Narromine and Gilgandra wrapped up in March," a spokesperson said."Hydrology specialists are now analysing the samples collected to determine water flow speeds in different locations. This data will inform the design of drainage structures.‘’We’ve completed geotechnical investigations between Narromine and Coonamble, including 27 boreholes, 65 test pits and 3,745 linear meters of seismic surveys."Crews will take a well-earned break and returned in May, subject to gaining land access approvals," they said.Meanwhile, the borrow pit geotechnical team completed their scope around Gilgandra and are now progressing to sites between Baradine and Narrabri.In April, locals may have seen biodiversity investigation teams, flood level surveyors and utility investigators in the field."Our work is not possible without the continued support and proactive collaboration from alignment landowners. We appreciate and value your commitment to progressing Inland Rail in the central west.’’IMAGE: ARTCGreg Peart is a landholder in the Curban area north of Gilgandra, and says teams have been visible on the ground and, behind the scenes, work continues on land acquisition."They're ramping up the negotiations south of Curban," Mr Peart said.He says two or three properties in his neighbourhood have been purchased in their entirety by ARTC while discussions are continuing with other landholders to reach agreement on purchasing land for the main corridor and leasing a wider area for use during the construction period."The most important thing is not to end up in compulsory acquisition, you need to be at the table, but I think most landholders are coming on side."I have 100 hectares severed off one farm and that's all been surveyed."It just depends what the compensation is, they get the agreement and when they pay you is a completely different thing."I'd just suggest people get a good compensation lawyer."June will see the kick off a program of utility investigations in the southern part of the Narrabri to Narromine section.‘’These investigations identify and map services to prevent damage during future construction and prevent dangerous and costly accidents."We will locate water pipes, electric cables, fiber optic cables, gas pipes, drainage and sewage pipelines. Our work will also include confirming the height of all overhead power lines."Contractor MinStaff Survey will deploy a small crew of field surveyors to collect the data using equipment like a Ground Penetrating Radar or an Electromagnetic Locator to identify depth and position of underground utilities.Technicians will use hand tools or a vacuum truck to expose below ground utilities by employing high pressure water and suction to remove material and expose services in the ground, particularly sensitive utilities like gas or electric cables.Wooden stakes will be placed in the ground to identify utility locations, type, depth and direction the utility runs.Once the field work is completed, the data will inform preliminary designs and help determine if the utility will need to be lowered, protected, removed or relocated.Further news is expected in June.By FARREN HOTHAM & LEE O'CONNOR 

The NSW Government is supporting more Aboriginal carers in rural and remote communities in Western NSW with a $300,000 funding boost through the Carers Investment Grant Program 2025-27.The funding will go to the Regional Enterprise Development Institute’s (REDI-e) Yadama Yoorayga project to drive greater awareness of support services available to Aboriginal people who care for family and friends.Many Aboriginal people in New South Wales provide unpaid care to a person with a disability, health condition or due to old age, and account for 3.6 per cent of all carers in New South Wales.While they experience many of the same challenges as other carers, they say they felt less recognised as carers by service providers.In a 2024 National Carer Survey, 30.4% said they sometimes or never feel services are culturally safe.The Regional Enterprise Development Institute is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation which has served Western NSW for more than 25 years.“The Regional Enterprise Development Institute has worked with Western NSW communities for decades and is well placed to serve the needs of carers in the area," said Chief Executive Peter Gibbs from the Dubbo-based organisation.“Carers play a huge role in supporting family members and friends with illness or disability, particularly as they grow older. “This funding will allow us to deliver a culturally-tailored program in partnership with the community to meet the unique needs of Aboriginal carers."The Regional Enterprise Development Institute in Dubbo. IMAGE: REDIe The REDI project promises to ensure that culturally safe services, which recognise Aboriginal carers’ history and needs, are provided.The project includes ongoing education and training to service providers to better equip them to meet the needs of Aboriginal carers in Western NSW.  Key focus areas of the two-year project include:Training service providers to understand the needs of Aboriginal carers.Partnering with organisations in Western NSW to connect with Aboriginal carers.Creating culturally appropriate programs with community input.Setting up systems for ongoing training and education for service providers beyond the project.The Yadama Yoorayga project is one of seven projects funded under the NSW Government’s $3.1 million Carers Investment Grant Program 2025-27 to support carers across the state.

The Liberal and National parties are back together again after a week-long break-up over policy difference. Liberal leader Susan Ley held a press conference with Nationals counterpart David Littleproud today, spruiking their new shadow cabinet. "Our parties are at their best when they work together to fight, right now, as a strong opposition," Ms Ley said. "Personally, David and I will be friends. I think a woman who got her start in the shearing sheds of western Queensland can always find something to talk about over a steak and a beer, David, with you, the person who represents those communities now." "We’ve laid the boundaries. We’ve laid the foundation stones," Mr Littleproud said. "There were principles that we talked about, and it took Susan and the leadership that she took over to get her party room to that position. "And we reciprocate that. We know this is a partnership." The parties failed to sign a partnership agreement last week over sticking points including nuclear energy, the Regional Australia Future Fund (RAFF), services in the bush, nuclear power and supermarket divestiture powers. However, compromises between the parties have been reported in the lead up to today's announced recoupling.  Ms Ley said the Coalition will support removing a ban on nuclear energy in Australia "as an important first step" before further policy discussion, although she said has not committed to building state-run facilities.  The Liberals also agreed to in-principle support for the RAFF and, provided it's used as a last resort, divestiture powers against supermarkets. Newly elected member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, will also take on the role of Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Natural Resources. "This is a man of great conviction, of great work ethic," Mr Littleproud said.Ley and Littleproud have brought the band back together. IMAGE: ABC NewsThe new Shadow Ministry is:Opposition Leader - Sussan LeyShadow Treasurer - Ted O’BrienNationals leader, Shadow Minister for Agriculture – David LittleproudShadow Minister for Finance, Shadow Minister for Public Service – James PatersonShadow Minister for Foreign Affairs – Michaelia CashShadow Minister for Defence – Angus TaylorShadow Minister for Women – Melissa McIntoshShadow Minister for Indigenous Australians – Kerrynne LiddleShadow Minister for Housing – Andrew BraggShadow Minister for Small Business – Tim WilsonShadow Minister for the Environment – Angie BellShadow Minister for Water – Ross CadellShadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism – Kevin HoganShadow Minister for Health – Anne RustonShadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs – Darren ChesterShadow Minister for Energy – Dan TehanShadow Minister for Industry – Alex HawkeShadow Minister for Home Affairs – Andrew HastieShadow Attorney-General – Julian Leeser

Residents across a wide area of western NSW were jolted awake in the early hours of last Saturday morning when an earthquake struck in The Marra area, north of Nyngan, followed by a series of aftershocks.Geoscience Australia reported that the tremor occurred at 2:36 am AEST on 24 May at a depth of up to 10 kilometres.While the original data said the main quake registered 5.2 in magnitude, it was later upgraded to 5.3.The quake was followed seven minutes later by a magnitude 4.2 aftershock and another magnitude 3.7 tremor about 5:30am.A later aftershock was recorded at around 11:46am of 3.1 MLa. [MLa = local Australian Magnitude]The quakes were felt across a wide area, with more than 135 people from Carinda, Dubbo, Narromine, Coolah, Coonabarabran and Baradine, and even Sydney, reporting the tremors to Geoscience Australia by 4am on Sunday.The tremors are among the strongest recorded in New South Wales in recent years.For context, a magnitude 5.1 quake struck near Singleton in April 2025, and a 4.8 magnitude event occurred near Denman in August 2024.In the western region, the most recent quake was recorded just last month, a 2.7 MLa quake 23 kilometres east of Gilgandra.In 2023, Goodooga recorded a 3.1 magnitude quake on 6 April. It was followed by a 3.1 at Tilpa on 29 August, another larger 4.0 magnitude quake near Goodooga/Lightning Ridge on 24 October.The family closest to the epicentre of The Marra quake on Sunday were Mark and Heather Dawson, who compared notes with their neighbours the next day.“The first one was like something had happened to the house,” Mrs Dawson said.“After that it was the noise as much as anything. For about 15 minutes it was like loud thunder.“I went outside with my torch and all I saw was stars.“One neighbour in an older house said her bed was shaking.”Others in the area described it like a ‘mob of emus running on the roof’ or the house being ‘hit by a truck’.Not far away, Garry and Leanne Hall at ‘The Mole’ on the edge of the Macquarie Marshes, say their house was moving from side to side.“We could hear the aftershocks coming, like a thunderstorm on the horizon that just built and built,” Mr Hall said.“I can tell you I don’t want to do it again.”On Sunday, residents in the wider region who felt the tremors shared their experiences.“I heard what I thought was a wind, then this roar underfoot like a herd of road trains loaded with grain driving right before me,” said Lisa Wheeler, who lives around 50 kilometres north of Coonamble.“Then the whole house rocked. It was a gentle rock, not violent.”The impact was felt even further east.“I was woken up by the bed shaking and the windows rattling; I thought it was a strong wind at first and the whole house moved,” said one Baradine resident. “In reality it lasted only a few seconds, but felt much longer and it was quite unsettling.”On-duty at the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) at Siding Spring Observatory in the early hours of the morning, physicist Andre Phillips says that he noticed that his chair appeared to be shaking.“I then felt the whole control console vibrating,” he said. “This strange state of affairs lasted for around twenty seconds, and it was then I was pretty sure I’d just felt an earthquake.“I checked out the Geoscience Australia Earthquakes web page and a few minutes later a report came through confirming the tremor.“I don’t expect that this event will have damaged anything within the AAT but there is a possibility that very twitchy instruments could have been affected. But no alarms went off so I guess we’re pretty OK.”Siding Springs Observatory looks across the Western Plains. (IMAGE: Tripadvisor)Andre says that there have been similar sized earthquakes in the region recorded in the past.“Although the region is not considered to be an earthquake area, there is historical evidence of massive earthquakes having taken place from time to time and little tremors happen all the time,” he added.“There was a magnitude 5.0 earthquake recorded near Pilliga Pottery in 1969 and there was another in the Keepit Dam area some years ago, which was felt in Coonabarabran.“Mining does have the potential to trigger earthquakes in some areas, but it is highly improbable that this earthquake was caused by such activity.”Andre says that earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust due to the movement of tectonic plates.“They are caused by stress in the ground and stress can be induced by all sorts of things. The whole of Australia is slowly moving northwards by around 70 millimetres a year, so the stress in rock builds up over time as the tectonic plates slowly push against, pull apart from, or slide past each other."It’s like pulling a rug over a rough surface, the rug is moving, but it is bending, warping and twisting as it goes over the underlying surface."This induces stress, so that in the end something cracks causing two adjacent slabs of rock to slide against each other, or to ride up on top of the other releasing the stored energy as seismic waves. This rapid release of energy is what we experience as an earthquake.”Senior Seismologist at Geoscience Australia, Phil Cummins, gave a similar explanation.“In Australia, the earth’s crust is conducive to seismic waves,” he said.“It was likely a classic earthquake due to the build up of tectonic stress on the edges of the Australian plate.“It could come from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea or even as far away as India where the collision with Asia uplifted the Himalayas.Australia's position on the Indo-Australian plate. (IMAGE: earth.how)“Those forces are transmitted and slowly builds up and the crust will rupture in Australia, it happens frequently and randomly.“It is an old crust, riddled with faults, so it’s hard to know where which faults are going to rupture or where they are.“There’s no place on earth that is free from earthquakes.”Geoscience Australia states they are continuing to monitor the situation.So far there are no confirmed reports of injuries or significant structural damage and authorities are urging residents to report any damage or unusual ground movement.By LIZ CUTTS & LEE O’CONNOR

Orana Mid-Western Police are seeking information relating to the current whereabouts of a 54 year old man. Glenn PRATT, 54, is wanted by virtue of an arrest warrant. Glenn's whereabouts is currently unknown however Police believe he may be in the Warren & Nyngan areas. "We strongly encourage them to present to their nearest Police Station to have this matter promptly dealt with," a police spokesperson said.Glenn is described as being Caucasian in appearance, about 180cm tall, about 120kg with a large build and brown hair.Glenn Pratt. IMAGE: Police media Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Police remind people they should not report crime information via the social media pages.

From July 1, electricity prices across NSW are set to rise again - hitting some of the most vulnerable communities the hardest.For regional NSW, especially the areas covered by Essential Energy (which includes western NSW such as Dubbo, Bourke, and surrounding regions), the electricity price increases are among the highest in the state.Households and small businesses across western New South Wales are bracing themselves with the Australian Energy Regulator confirming increases for customers in regional areas.While the national energy regulator says the increase is necessary to reflect rising wholesale and network costs, community advocates say it will disproportionately impact vulnerable people in already struggling regional towns.In the Essential Energy distribution zone which covers most of inland New South Wales including Dubbo, Bourke, Cobar, and Broken Hill, residential customers can expect to pay an average of 9.1 per cent more, while small businesses will see a 7.2 per cent increase in their electricity bills.The Essential Energy coverage map.Price breakdownHere’s how it breaks down by distribution zone, based on the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) Default Market Offer (DMO) 2024–25 final determination.Residential electricity price increases:Essential Energy (regional NSW including west of Dubbo): +9.1 per cent increase (~$219 more per year)Ausgrid (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter): +4.2 per cent (~$100 more per year)Endeavour Energy (Greater Western Sydney, South Coast): +3.4 per cent (~$87 more per year).Small business electricity price increases:Essential Energy: +7.2 per centAusgrid: +1.7 per centEndeavour Energy: +2.7 per cent.The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) says these figures translate into real hardship for those already forced to make impossible choices.“People on low incomes are already skipping meals, going without medications, or selling personal items just to keep the lights on,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.She is calling on governments to act quickly, with targeted support including energy debt relief, upgrades to housing for better energy efficiency.ACOSS are also calling for an overhaul of how renewable energy subsidies are paid for, proposing they be moved from electricity bills to the federal budget, which could lower bills by around seven per cent.The latest price hike comes as aging coal-fired generators become less reliable and global gas prices remain high.At the same time, many inland towns still rely on outdated energy infrastructure, leaving them particularly exposed to supply disruptions and price fluctuations.For communities in the Western Plains, where high temperatures in summer drive up cooling costs and winter nights can be bitterly cold, energy bills are already a major pressure point.Energy alternativesFrancis Vierboom, CEO of Rewiring Australia argues that long-term relief lies in helping households transition to electrified systems powered by local solar energy.“People don’t have to wait for new transmission lines and mega projects,” Ms Vierboom said.Energy resilience is important according to Rewiring Australia CEO, Francis Vierboom“Households with rooftop solar, batteries, electric appliances, and EVs can slash their energy bills and reduce their exposure to price spikes.”Rewiring Australia is supporting a number of pilot programs across the country including the successful Electrify 2515 project in coastal NSW which has shown that local energy systems can reduce bills and improve energy resilience.Back in western NSW, residents are encouraged to check their current energy deals using government comparison tools like Energy Made Easy, and to speak with their energy retailer if they are struggling to pay their bills.“One-off energy rebates to everyone are poorly targeted, expensive, and do not provide the permanent bill relief other solutions offer,” Dr Goldie said. “To deliver on its promise of leaving no-one behind, the government must provide targeted support to those that need it the most, starting with a substantial increase to Jobseeker and related payments, providing energy debt relief, and prioritising more investment in home energy upgrades to low-income housing and for renters.”As energy costs continue to rise, pressure is mounting on both state and federal governments to act swiftly - before even more Australians are left in the dark.

Narromine’s Norma Meadley, adored by her community for tireless dedication, says helping people is what gives her joy.Norma’s humour, thorough research and her love of history is why she is an absolute Hidden Treasure in Narromine, an award given to 74 women across NSW during National Volunteer Week.“Thank you to the inspirational women who selflessly volunteer their time in our regional, rural and remote communities," Minister for Volunteering Jodie Harrison said when announcing the awards last week."You truly are the glue that connects us.“Your efforts do not go unnoticed. The Hidden Treasures program is our way of shining the light on your immense contributions and elevate the otherwise unseen work you are doing to drive social connection, strengthen and build resilience in regional communities.“The NSW Government is committed to strengthening the volunteering sector through initiatives that help grow participation, supports for volunteers and recognition of your valuable contributions.” CEO of Volunteering Gemma Rygate said women who volunteer in regional communities play a particularly important role in strengthening local networks, and supporting essential services, which often lack the resources of the same services in the city.“Our research shows that women contribute approximately $87 billion to the state’s economy through volunteering and they are generally driven by a desire to help others," Ms Rygate said.“National Volunteer Week is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the vital efforts of the more than 4.3 million volunteers across NSW. The week is a perfect time to give volunteers the thanks and recognition they deserve.” Norma Meadley (right) with fellow volunteers Shirley Alderton and Bob Meadley in the Narromine Local History Room. For Norma, who has made significant contributions to her community as a dedicated volunteer in the Narromine Local History Room in the shire library for over 25 years, says amazing stories are revealed once you trace family history.‘’One of the weird ones is finding stories inside people’s history and their homes, some ask if they were ghosts inside them. I never found any ‘’ she says with a laugh.Mrs Meadley's passion for preserving the rich tapestry of Narromine and surrounding district’s heritage is evident in the three full days a week she tirelessly dedicates to this role.Norma goes above and beyond, meticulously researching and compiling matters of local interest.Her commitment extends to assisting individuals near and far with family history questions, personal interest projects, and research for articles and books.She assists with over 300 enquiries every year.‘’The stories are amazing in our small town, and it shows how it's grown and how the place has evolved.," she said."The history of Indigenous local people is intriguing, with their incredible history; it has its difficulties, but it is remarkable."Technology has changed dramatically from the days of painstakingly going through hard copy editions of newspapers from many years ago.Norma Meadley with Debbie Irving (Trangie History Group) Beyond the archives, Norma actively engages with the present, acting as a frontline collector of ephemera, media, and photographs.Her foresight ensures that future generations will have a profound understanding of both contemporary life and the heritage of their towns.Norma also generously lends her expertise to various Narromine community groups and organisations, such as the Narromine CWA, Narromine Preschool, Narromine Aviation Museum and Narromine Pharmacy to chronicle and preserve the unique histories that shape these entities.Her nominee said "Norma is an invaluable asset to our community, working quietly and without seeking recognition, but leaving an indelible mark on the preservation and celebration of our local heritage."Norma has produced books on Irrigation, the Catholic School and also deep, rich family history and also with the Trangie community.‘’I just do my work quietly and didn’t think anyone noticed, so I was puzzled when I got the letter," said Norma.

The closure of Community Justice Centres in Brewarrina and further west at Menindee will be devastating says local Trish Frail who is also a shire councillor in Brewarrina.Designed as a prevention for those with minor crimes a judge would order a mediation without the need for the offender to have to go to court. The Community justice Centres close June 30.Ms Frail says its bitterly disappointing for her community."I have worked in the criminal justice in the area and a lot of cases were solved but I fear for many who commit minor crimes where jail is then the only option and indigenous people are over represented in our jails and mediation with their own did help," she said."Civil and simple matters will cost a lot for people to travel."I am surprised people in our community didn’t put up a big campaign and stand up and fight this closure," she said.The Aboriginal Legal Aid Service who had earlier said they were deeply concerned about the failure of the bail system saying it let down communities declined to comment when contacted by the Western Plains App.Trish Frail says The New South Wales Government want bigger jails. "I think they want to build bigger super jails so without mediation in many cases young offenders will go the big house."In December 2024 there were 4,114 Aboriginal adults in custody. They comprised 32.3% of the adult custody population - the highest proportion ever recorded. Both the number of Aboriginal men (up 434 or 13.1%) and Aboriginal women (up 43 or 13.6%) increased from December 2022 to December 2024. The increase in the prison population is mainly due to an increase in remand. In December 2024, the number of Aboriginal people held on remand in NSW was 1,877, up 28.8% since December 2022. The most common offences for which Aboriginal adults were on remand were DV assault (404 or 21.5% of the remand population) and non-DV assault (331 or 17.6% of the remand population). Both the number of Aboriginal adults proceeded against to court (up 3.4% or 1,145) and the number who were police and court bail refused has increased over the last year. In the final quarter of 2024, police bail refusal rate increased to 40.8% (up 3.3 percentage points from 37.5% in Q4 2022) and the court bail refusal rate increased to 22.0% (up 2.1 percentage points from 19.9% in Q4 2022).Solicitor Mercedes Castrikum "These centres have served communities across the state for over 40 years, offering free mediation services for neighbourhood and civil disputes—without the need to go to court," Mercedes Castrikum senior principle at Castrikum and Adams said. "CJCs have provided a vital public service, helping individuals resolve common issues like fence disputes, overhanging trees, noise complaints, and property access. "In 2022–23, nearly 80% of neighbourhood disputes handled by CJCs were resolved successfully. "This high success rate demonstrates just how effective informal mediation can be in preventing matters from escalating into costly and time-consuming litigation."With their closure, many individuals—especially those already experiencing financial hardship—may find themselves with no affordable path to resolve everyday legal disputes. "Formal legal proceedings may now become the only option, increasing strain on the court system and placing additional stress on those involved."Ms Castrikum involved in many Criminal Justice matters argues that the removal of CJCs will likely hit vulnerable and low-income residents the hardest. "Without access to free mediation, disputes that could have been resolved in a matter of weeks may now stretch into months, costing significantly more and damaging relationships along the way."Mediation not only provides faster outcomes—it often helps preserve neighbourly and business relationships. "This is especially important in small communities where parties must continue living or working in close proximity."  

Some fresh new faces will be showing up in local shire staffrooms as councils begin to fill the biggest intake of trainees and apprentices seen in many years.Councils across the Western Plains were awarded funding for 51 new apprentices or as part of the Fresh Start state government initiative.In total 1000 apprentices across the state will be provided with training for local essential services with more than 60 per cent of the roles being delivered to rural and regional areas.Positions to be filled include Parks and Gardens, Business Administration, Engineering, Civil, Construction, Waste and Water, Urban and Regional Planning, Mechanics, Childcare, Building (Surveying, Inspection, etc.), Electricians, Information Technology, Finance, Plumbing and Environmental Services.Bourke Shire Council – 2Brewarrina Shire Council – 6Walgett Shire Council – 6Bogan Shire Council – 6Warrumbungle Shire Council – 12Warren Shire Council – 4Coonamble – 7Narromine – 8Member for Barwon Roy Butler was happy to receive the news of apprenticeship funding for his area."I am extremely supportive of any initiative that means more tradies in Barwon communities”, said Mr Butler.“We all know how hard it is to get qualified tradies out West; the tyranny of distance means that getting work done can be much more expensive when you take in the cost of travel. “The $252.2 million funding from the Government will mean that my councils don't have to think twice when making the decision to take on an apprentice."It will take time, but the long-term impact will mean more qualified tradespeople in our communities who will eventually start their own businesses and enhance the liveability of many small towns out West," he said.Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis (IMAGE: supplied)Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis said council is very pleased to have been successful with obtaining six funded positions under Fresh Start funding.“These have been specifically targeted in a diverse range of fields from human resources to plant operations,” said Mr Francis.One apprentice has already commenced work, with another to start next week and the remaining successful applicants will commence work in the next three to six months.“Our recent workforce management plan highlighted that our workforce overall is aging, and this is an ideal opportunity to build capacity for the future.We would like to thank the NSW Government for the program and the funding provided,” said Mr Francis.The Fresh Start program is funding the wages of 1,300 apprentices, trainees and cadets over the next six years, giving local students and school leavers the opportunity to study and learn on the job while gaining a nationally accredited qualification.“Across the electorate of Barwon, Council staff are out in our communities every day, providing the services we often take for granted, and this program is a massive boost for local government and for young people looking for a job where they can work in their local community,” said Stephen Lawrence MLC.“Across the electorate of Barwon, the uptake from councils has been fantastic and goes to show how desperately councils need this support, especially in regional and rural areas,” he said.One Western area resident said communities are struggling to keep young people in town and this is a great start to keep kids in community.“Rural communities are losing young people to the city to gain qualifications and employment, leaving us with aging rural towns."By providing apprenticeships we can keep our kids in the community, while they are still able to gain life changing skills and that can only be a great thing for us,” he said.

Police are appealing for public assistance as part of investigations into a set of car thefts and fires in the west, including Lake Cargelligo. Emergency services were called to the intersection of Ernie Hayes Memorial Drive and Lachlan Valley Way in Lake at around 6:35am on Thursday 22 May following reports of a vehicle fire. Police say Fire and Rescue NSW personnel extinguished the blaze, but the car was destroyed. In a second incident between 4.30pm and on Thursday 22 May 2025 and 7am the next day, a silver Toyota Prado was allegedly stolen from a home on Grenfell Street in West Wyalong. "Police found the vehicle parked on Townsend Street, Lake Cargelligo before being seized for forensic examination," a police spokesperson said. "Following inquiries, police would like to speak to the owner/occupants of a black Suzuki Swift seen in the area at the time. "Police established multiple crime scenes and commenced an investigation into the incidents." No injuries were reported. Police said they are following a line of inquiry that both incidents are linked. They are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

NSW’s Concord Burns Unit supports around two-thirds of the state and the ACT, servicing 11 health districts and a population of over 5.5 million.Patients from remote areas, including towns like ours in the western plains, often rely on the centre for specialist treatment.In a medical breakthrough that could transform burns care, researchers at Concord Hospital in Sydney have developed a world-first technique to 3D print skin using a patient’s own cells then apply it directly to their wounds.The technology is currently undergoing clinical trials and is already showing promising results in speeding up healing and reducing pain for patients, including those from regional NSW.Developed by Australian biotech firm Inventia Life Science, in collaboration with Concord Hospital’s Burns Unit and its Skin Laboratory, the new technique uses the Ligo Surgical Robot to print biomaterials directly onto burn wounds.The precision of this process helps surgeons rebuild lost tissue after trauma with unprecedented accuracy.Minister for Health Ryan Park described the innovation as “life-changing technology which can make a world of difference to people with burns injuries and soft tissue loss,” adding that it “furtherenhances Concord Burns Unit’s reputation as a developing centre of excellence for burns care globally.”He said the 3D skin printing trial offers real hope for people who experience serious burns, which often lead to chronic complications such as infection, scarring and restricted mobility.“We know people with serious burns face a range of medical complications,” he said.“This breakthrough offers a promising new approach to accelerate recovery, reduce pain, and improve long-term outcomes for patients.”According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there were 5,500 hospitalisations due to thermal injuries across the country in 2021–22, equating to around 22 per 100,000 people.Deaths from thermal causes (burns) totalled 120 in the year prior.A large proportion of these cases are from regional areas, where the risk of house fires, farm accidents and workplace burns is higher and emergency treatment options can be limited.Dr Joanneke Maitz demonstrates the 3D printing process that will be used on patients with burn injuries.The clinical trial underway at Concord uses skin printing on surgically created wounds which are generated when skin grafts are harvested to treat actual burn injuries to test safety and effectiveness.If proven suitable, the next step will involve direct printing onto active burns, including deeper and more complex wounds.Minister for Medical Research David Harris said the project was a prime example of how government investment in health innovation was improving outcomes.“Supporting our innovators and their technologies through the NSW Medical Devices Fund is just one of the unique ways we are seeing enhanced interventions,” he said.“This innovative and life-changing approach aims to make healing more consistent, reduce the need for additional surgeries, and improve patient outcomes.”The project has received $3.47 million in funding from the NSW Government’s Medical Devices Fund, helping Inventia Life Science to refine and expand the use of the Ligo Surgical Robot.Government Spokesperson for Drummoyne Mark Buttigieg said the innovation was a testament to the expertise within Australia’s burns treatment community.“This world-first advancement is a testament to the skill and dedication of the team here at the Concord Burns Unit."Through their efforts, Australia has achieved worldwide recognition for our ability to treat people with severe burns,” he said.Local MP Jason Yat-Sen Li chipped in to say that the Burns Unit had already built a strong global reputation after treating victims of the 2002 Bali bombings.“The team have achieved remarkable outcomes for some of our most seriously injured burns patients, here at home, as well as through their significant research efforts,” he said.“These efforts have now resulted in world-first technology like 3D printed skin.”As trials continue, the medical community is hopeful that this cutting-edge technology will soon become a standard treatment option, particularly beneficial for rural and regional patients who face longtravel times and limited access to burns specialists.More details can be found here.

As the east coast reels from recent flooding rains, the NSW State Emergency Service has started to wind down flood operations in Western NSW.  Flooding commenced in far western NSW in late March as a result of significant rainfall in Queensland. Major flooding on the Paroo River exceeded the 1990 record height on 7 April at Wanaaring, which saw many residents right along the catchment isolated by widespread flood waters due to cut roads.There was also significant flooding on the Warrego River and Darling River. IMAGE: Bourke Shire CouncilNSW SES State Duty Commander, acting Assistant Commissioner Allison Flaxman ESM praised the many volunteers who had worked over many weeks supporting communities. “This was a prolonged campaign flood which saw the NSW SES support rural properties and homesteads in Wanaaring, Bourke, Walgett, Louth, Tilpa, Wilcannia, Hungerford, Yantabulla, Fords Bridge, Gumbalie Enngonia, to name a few. “It was a coordinated approach with the NSW SES deploying community information teams, rescue teams, high clearance vehicles and aviation assets throughout large parts of the state."Col Brown at Wanaaring Store & Caravan Park says the support at the height of the flooding was much appreciated by those in the township and on outlying properties."They did a great job while we were an island," he said."They kept an eye on things 24/7, checking the levee bank around the perimeter of the village every couple of hours."It was a great thing having the helicopter flying in and out with supplies, two times a day at least with groceries and mail."Road near Wanaaring township. Damage to roads and other infrastructure will challenge residents and local government for many more months but recovery work is well underway. IMAGE: Wanaaring Store & Caravan ParkMr Brown says the main road to Wanaaring was opened to light traffic a couple of weeks ago and just this week has been open to all traffic."Bourke council have done really well considering how chewed up the roads were," he said."The road from Wanaaring to Hungerford is still under water in places. They're out there with graders but it will be quite a while before the water is gone and they can finish the job."He says travellers are beginning to make their way to Wanaaring but are limited to where they can go from there due to the amount of water still around through the Corner Country and elsewhere in southwest Queensland.Assistant SES Commissioner Flaxman said flooding has largely eased in the area, but some residual water will still see some roads impacted. “While we are wrapping up our official operations and looking to transition to recovery, we continue to support long-term isolated residents,” she said. “Our volunteers assisted with 339 incidents, which included 65 resupply missions to isolated residents."  The Darling River at Menindee Town is currently at 3.37 metres and falling. It is predicated that the Menindee Lakes has sufficient capacity to capture any remaining floodwater. 

A long-term project for Bogan Shire Council came to fruition recently with the opening of the newly restored Girilambone Railway Station.Saved from demolition, the 141-year-old station now adds to Bogan Shire's tourism offering along with its 'sister station' in Nyngan.The opening day in April also allowed the community to mark milestones for local Rural Fire Service volunteers. With around 120 people present, the platform was filled with people eager to see the $1.7 million restoration made possible by a NSW Government Heritage and Tourism grant. Stephen Lawrence MLC was present to cut the ribbon and former Bogan Shire Mayor Ray Donald addressed the crowd along with current Mayor Glen Neill, assisted by General Manager Derek Francis. Stephen Lawrence MLC with Nyngan Mayor Glen Neill at the opening. (IMAGE: Bogan Shire Council)  The station, which was first opened in 1884, closed in 1986 and has sat in disrepair ever since until Bogan Shire applied for funding and was finally successful in 2022. “I was very pleased to be officially marking the (re)opening of the Girilambone Train Station, noting that we have been able to save a part of our heritage that I believe was due for demolition,” said Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis.  Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis speaks at the opening. (IMAGE: Bogan Shire Council) "I can see it being a real tourism asset for the local community and wider Bogan Shire as well as a useful community hub for Girilambone,” he said. Phil Wallace a long time resident of Girilambone entertained with stories of the towns past as memorabilia was displayed throughout the station for people to look at.  Local resident Phil Wallace sharing stories of Girilambone. (IMAGE: Bogan Shire Council) A highlight of the opening was eight members of the Girilambone Rural Fire service were presented long service medals by Mr Lawrence, representing the NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, and Superintendent Paul Metcalf.The recipients were:Fran Kelly – for 20 yearsGunther Greilinger – 20 yearsKarl Bright – 20 yearsTrevor Donnelly – 30 yearsGreg Hicks – 30 yearsAnthony Gibson – 30 yearsRon Bright – 30 yearsBill Morley – 60 years.  RFS Superintendent Paul Metcalf, Mayor Glen Neill and Stephen Lawrence MLC with long service medal recipients. (IMAGE: Bogan Shire Council) Phillip Buckley, Rail Media, was on hand to record the day with his photography and was thrilled to see the project finally finished and an asset for the town of Girilambone. “I have been involved in assorted NSW railway heritage station projects since 2009, having worked on or helped with/or strongly advocating for re-use on stations like Gundagai, Temora, Newbridge, Cumnock, Merriwa, Carcoar and many more. “I have also been active in consulting on the South Eveleigh Railway Workshops heritage memorials, while proactively supporting the restoration of the Girilambone railway station from 2020, being thrilled to see it come back to a restored status.  Railway station prior to restoration. (IMAGE: Angie White) “In my view having been deeply involved in railway heritage, I see the Girilambone railway station restoration, funded by the NSW Government grant over the last five years, as a rare outcome. “In the last few years NSW has already lost two other heritage railway stations to demolition and sadly another 3 are likely to be demolished in 2025. “This timely revival of Girilambone, which is the sole remaining Bourke railway branch line railway station, a Type 5 roadside design, will be I believe a tourism game changer for the town, bringing in heritage rail spending tourists and supports local jobs. “The NSW heritage rail tourism market is huge and by restoring the station, hopefully into a multi-user facility, Bogan Shire Council will be able to tap into providing a destination to visit and add new tourism events on the yearly list. The newly refurbished station is bound to be a tourist attraction for the small village of Girilambone. (IMAGE: Bogan Shire Council) “The Nyngan railway station acts as an information and museum site, so it shows this dual site concept works,” said Mr Buckley."Having been privileged to have access to record the Girilambone railway station restoration over the last five years, I’ve seen it go from decay to work in progress to looking almost brand new. “Having spoken to former staff who worked there, they say the restored station is way better than they ever saw it."This new life on the station will, over time, I hope help to revitalise the town and showcase the history of the railway branch line to Bourke and explain how important rail passenger and freight services were and still are to regional NSW."

Warren Shire Mayor Greg Whiteley says the $7.1 million Levee Bank Rehabilitation and Riverbank Rock Armouring Project has reached a major milestone in protecting the community from future flood events.Work is beginning soon to keep Warren safe.‘’We are doing this in 5 sections 250m long firstly then 4 other areas to encircle the town left of Dubbo Street behind the Dental surgery and to Warren hole,’’ Mr Whiteley said.He explained it will minimise the risk of it ever flooding the town again like 1990 and in the 1950’s.Work was done in the 1990’s, from 96 to 2001, but now with major re-enforcement and further flood studies the bolstered levee bank will be in place by Christmas ‘’weather permitting’’. Jointly funded by all three levels of government, Commonwealth, State and Local, the project forms a key part of Council’s long-term flood mitigation strategy. It is facilitated by NSW Reconstruction Authority under the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program, with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) administering the funds on behalf of NSW Reconstruction Authority.“We’re grateful to receive funding from the Commonwealth under the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program, and the NSW Government," said Mr Whiteley.Warren levee. IMAGE: Warren Shire CouncilOnce complete, the Project will deliver significant upgrades to Warren’s flood protection system, including:Strong rock revetments to stabilise and reinforce the levee bank,Modernised floodgates designed to better manage water flow, andDiesel-powered pumps to safeguard homes, roads, and essential community assets during high-water events.Mayor Whiteley said the project will bring real benefits to the community, not only in infrastructure, but in security and peace of mind.“This isn’t just about engineering. It’s about protecting people’s homes, local farms, community facilities, and businesses," he said. "We’re investing in the future of Warren Shire and our community’s safety, making sure we’re ready to weather the storms ahead."Council’s Infrastructure Projects Manager, Joe Joseph, said, “This is a technically complex project involving rock revetments, new floodgates, and pump infrastructure that will allow us to respond more efficiently and effectively during emergency situations.”“MGN Civil brings the specialist capability and experience required to work in the riverine environment and deliver a more robust, reliable defence against flooding. "We’re pleased to be moving into the construction phase,” he added.Residents can stay informed by visiting the Warren Shire Council website, follow Council on Facebook, and subscribe to Council’s email newsletter. “As the project progresses, we encourage residents to stay engaged, connected and informed as we build a more resilient future for Warren Shire,” Mayor Greg Whiteley said. ‘’There will be some disruptions to the town we ask the community to bear with us."

Were you shaken awake last night?Western area residents and surrounding areas have taken to social media as Geoscience Australia has detected an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 at 2.36am followed by a 4.2 aftershock at 2.43am 60kms north of Nyngan and 100 km west of Coonamble.In fact, there was a series of three quakes registered in the vicinity.So far, Geoscience Australia has received 196 'felt reports' from people in the area..Reported as one of the largest earthquakes in the region’s history, with people as far away as Dubbo and Narrabri, Wee Waa and Lightning Ridge, feeling the shake, residents have reported windows and floors moving, and in the Marra area one resident said items had flown off shelves.Likened to a loud truck passing by one Nyngan resident said it sounded more like a bomb going off, while the “What’s on in Marra’ Facebook page reported being woken to the sound of crashing articles and the house shaking for four or five seconds with three aftershocks over the next five to ten minutes.A Dubbo resident posted “Honestly thought something had hit my roof, even the dogs sensed it”, she wrote, with a Nyngan resident saying it felt like a train going through the house.Geoscience Australia's 'felt grid' maps reports from people who say they experienced the shake.While there have been no reports of damage to date, it certainly was a fright for many residents to wake up to.Geoscience Australia reports that the exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.To report your experience of the earthquake, click here.

The NSW Government has taken a major step forward in 'damage control' from stolen identity documents, introducing the Identity Protection and Recovery Bill into the NSW Parliament earlier this month. The new legislation will establish a fraud check service, allowing government agencies and other accredited organisations to confirm whether identity document (ID) details have been compromised or stolen.  The new Compromised Credential Register will send up a red flag when someone tries to use an ID document that has been stolen or compromised, in a similar way to how stolen number plates can be flagged by automatic plate recognition. ScamWatch, which is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, reported Australians lost more than $2 billion to scams last year. More than 67,000 scams were reported in NSW alone.  Under the Bill, ID Support NSW will operate as the core government provider of identity protection and recovery services. Last year, ID Support NSW helped more than 40,000 customers impacted by identity misuse and data compromises between 2023-4.   The new legislation will also include setting up a secure Compromised Credential Register to provide a fraud check service for IDs such as NSW driver licences and photo cards.  Professor of Cybersecurity at Monash University Nigel Phair, says the idea is wholistically great, but not a sliver bullet for the issue of identity fraud.   "This isn't going to solve all the identity theft and online woes. It's just a piece of the arsenal, but it's a great idea," said Professor Phair.  The e-Safety Commission is another port of call for advice and information on your digital security. While the strategy is good, Professor Phair notes that education on the issue of identity fraud is the biggest factor in preventing people falling prey to online scams.   "Education is the key, but as we've seen over the last 20 years education hasn't been working. So the question is how do we better educate people when it comes to operating online and make that education really cut through?"   ID Support currently educates the community on scams by hosting nearly 200 interactive events last year on identity, privacy and cyber security resilience.   But Professor Phair main advice is for people to "be wary of when and where you give your data."  Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said the new laws would help safeguard NSW residents against cyber criminals.   “By alerting people quickly and supporting them to secure their identity and replace compromised ID documents, NSW residents will be better protected from impersonation, scams and fraud.  “The new Compromised Credential Register will enable these early notifications to both individuals and agencies, and will send up a red flag when someone tries to use an ID document that has been stolen or compromised."   The NSW Government has committed $22.7 million over four years in funding to ID Support through the 2024-25 Budget.